ALMOST £1m will be pumped into five of Flintshire's most needy communities this year.

The cash comes from the Welsh Assembly Communities First (CF) kitty to improve the quality of life for people in the selected areas, cut poverty and promote regeneration.

But is Communities First making a difference? GEORGE TATTUM investigates.

CF CASH is targeted at five communities, ranging from Rural North Flintshire - including Mostyn and Ffynnongroyw - in the north to Mold's Bryn Gwalia estate in the south.

The three other areas are parts of Holywell, Greenfield and Boot End, Bagillt, Flint's Castle Ward and Higher Shotton.

As the 10-year regeneration programme has passed the two-year milestone, its effectiveness is under scrutiny.

The general consensus is that CF is providing value for money, although some dissenting voices claim the system is not delivering.

In a bid to assess the impact of CF in Flintshire, county council leader Alex Aldridge is taking an in-depth look at the project.

Councillors from the five communities were invited to County Hall to deliver their verdict.

'There were positive and negative comments, and a real divergence of opinion emerged,' he said.

'Some councillors raised the level of financial accountability of the Communities First programme.

'Others questioned what had been achieved, set against the number of people employed.'

Cllr Aldridge conceded there had been some criticism, with several councillors concerned about the quality and relevance of several projects in their neighbourhoods.

But there was praise from others.

There is little doubt on Mold's Bryn Gwalia estate - which has benefited from CF investment and will receive almost £300,000 this year - that the scheme is paying massive dividends.

Mervyn Phillips, chairman of the town's CF panel, said: 'The concept of Communities First is still relatively new and evolving.

'We have just been told we are to receive £200,000 for the refurbishment of Parkfields Community Centre, which is very good news indeed.

'What I like about the project is CF encourages members of the community to feel they are involved.

'It's a new form of democracy and an opportunity to get things done that would not normally be done without this special funding.'

Fruit and vegetables are available to Bryn Gwalia residents for just £2 a bag as part of a healthy eating programme organised by CF at the Parkfields Community Centre, in Mold.

Holywell CF covers the Holway, Strand, and parts of Bagillt and Greenfield.

One of the town's county councillors, Robin Baker, has been monitoring progress.

He said: 'A fair bit of cash has gone into the scheme, but the general complaint in my ward - and elsewhere - is that there has perhaps not yet been very much to show for the money.

'Friends of Pen-y-Maes Woods have received a substantial grant to improve the area, and when the work is completed it may help change the perception of a lack of results.

'They are also providing some support for the Strand-Pen-y-Maes Community Centre project but I don't expect instant results can be achieved with this and the slowness will inevitably fuel public frustration.'

In Higher Shotton, the local panel has organised a wide range of projects, embracing everything from culture to community safety.

And in Flint's Castle Ward the scheme has spawned a string of initiatives, from a clear-up of disused allotments to the development of a skate-board park with the town council.

Flintshire County Council is one of the partners in the project.

The authority is also the conduit for cash flowing out of Assembly coffers and into projects.

Rod Taylor, from the author-ity's corporate strategy directorate, said: 'Local Authorities have an important role to play in Community Leadership and should be ensuring linkages between Community Strategies and Communities First Action Plans.

'In Flintshire the programme is on target in line with the Welsh Assembly programme and it is clear the partners in the five Communities First areas are working together.'

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant has praised the efforts of the local panel, and his Delyn counterpart Sandy Mewies is equally enthusiastic about the project.

She said: 'The scheme is 'bringing tangible benefits to communities with something for everyone.'

What's your view of Communities First? E-mail flintshire.

AMs pleased with success of CF schemes in county

POLITICIANS are upbeat about the Communities First programme in Flintshire.

'Schemes up and running include immensely popular food co-ops in Bryn Gwalia, Mostyn, Ffynnongroyw, Holway and Strand.

'Communities First is supporting the development of much-needed facilities in many areas, like the proposed new Talacre Community Centre with a £220,000 grant, Mostyn Community Centre and the most recent award of nearly £200,000 to Parkfields Community Centre in Bryn Gwalia, Mold.

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant said: 'The Welsh Labour Government at the Assembly is very keen to support initiatives such as this and indeed the whole Communities First Scheme throughout Wales.

'I am particularly pleased for the Higher Shotton Communities First team because they are a hard working, dedicated team anxious to support the local community every way they can.

'There has been criticisms that Communities First should be a scheme open to all areas in Flintshire, not just the five already concentrated on. Despite these comments we must look at the outcomes of the programme so far and see it is a successful one.'